Teachers Unions Oppose Bill Criminalizing Sex With Students

A bill to make it criminal for Rhode Island teachers to have sex with their underage students is being opposed by teachers unions.

In Rhode Island, some lawmakers are trying to pass a law (full text below) that would make “a school teacher or employee that engages in sexual penetration of a student over fourteen (14) and less than eighteen (18)” guilty of third degree sexual assault.

Shockingly, the National Education Association and Rhode Island Federation of Teachers (RIFT) came out in opposition to the bill this last week.

“Yesterday at a hearing for a bill (HB 5817) that would make sex between school employees and students a crime—even after they’ve turned 16, the legal age of consent in Rhode Island—both teachers’ unions made their objections known,” education writer Erica Stanzi writes. “NEA RI didn’t have anyone testify but Pat Crowley did sign in to the hearing and note his opposition to the bill.”

James Parisi, a representative and lobbyist with the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers (RIFT), posted a video on the union’s Facebook page explaining that, while the union is not opposed to the goal, the union did object to the bill because it “singled out teachers and did not include all the other adults who come into contact with students in other settings such as store managers, clergy, scout leaders, legislators.”

“There’s a long list of people who are not impacted by the bill,” continued Parisi. “So, the union argued that we should either raise the age of consent for everyone or, if you’re going to pass a bill related to a certain profession include all of the professions that come into contact with students…or school-age students…not just the teachers and other school employees covered by the bill.”

“Last time I checked, children aren’t, by law, in the custodial care of store managers from kindergarten through 12th grade,” Ms. Sanzi points out.

“As it currently stands, Rhode Island is one of a few states where it is perfectly legal for teachers and other school employees to have sexual relations with their students once they turn 16,” according to Ms. Sanzi. “It’s literally a dirty little secret—almost no one seems to be aware of this loophole in the law and yet it leaves high school students without any protection from those who would sexually abuse them after their 16th birthday.”

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